SMITH experienced the proposed restructured set-up during his time at Admira Wacker and reckons it the best way to take Scottish football forward.

GORDON SMITH last night praised the SPL for coming up with a league reconstruction plan he’s been trying to push through for almost a decade.

The ex-SFA chief executive is a long-time advocate of the two leagues of 12 proposal, which splits into three leagues of eight after 22 games, after experiencing it as a player for Admira Wacker in Austria during the 1980s.

Smith said: “I know this system works because I played in it. I was in a team which had to fight in the first 22 games to stay out of the bottom four and when we’d achieved that we could then look to fight for European football. It was an exciting time.

“The beauty of it is when the league splits there is essentially a 14-game play-off for the four places that get you into the top division the following season. The SPL clubs deserve great credit for supporting this idea because there is an element of risk for most of their clubs.

“It’s taken them a long time to get there but the SPL has come up with the best way forward and I hope it comes to fruition.”